Christmas Lights Installation and Maintenance Contract for Newport Town Centre 2026-2029

Newport Town Council is seeking an experienced contractor to design, supply, install, maintain, and manage a Christmas lighting display for Newport Town Centre from November 2026. This is a 3-year contract (with optional 2-year extension to 6 years total) valued at £234,000 excluding VAT (£280,800 including VAT). KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful contractor will be responsible for the complete design and delivery of a cohesive Christmas lighting scheme covering High Street, Upper Bar, Stafford Street, Lower Bar, and St Mary's Street. Work includes supplying or leasing all lighting and decorations, installing and commissioning the display, annual electrical and structural testing, ongoing maintenance, emergency fault response (24 hours standard, 2 hours for safety emergencies), and secure removal and storage of all equipment each season. BUDGET AND REQUIREMENTS: The indicative annual budget is £30,000-£39,000. The display must maximise visual impact and coverage using existing infrastructure including catenary wires, column structures, and approved building fixings. Two 23-foot Christmas trees must be decorated with LED lighting at St Nicholas Churchyard and Wellington Road Corner. All lighting must be LED or energy-efficient technology and comply with BS 7671, BS 7909, and ISO standards. MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS: Contractors must hold minimum £10 million Public and Employers liability insurance, provide staff trained in IPAF, Working at Height, and electrical installation (HERS certified), and deliver full Risk Assessments and Method Statements. All lighting operates automatically on timers (6:30am-9:00am and 3:00pm-11:00pm daily). The contractor must attend the official switch-on event and provide annual written reports on call-outs and improvement suggestions. CONTRACT PERIOD: 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029, with possible extension to 31 May 2032 based on performance, inventory condition, and KPI compliance.